Crusaders' nightmare worsens

The Crusaders' horror start to Super Rugby has been compounded by an injury worry.

The Crusaders' horror start to Super Rugby has been compounded by an injury worry.

Lock Luke Romano has suffered what's believed to be a serious rib injury in the seven-time champions' heavy 15-34 loss to the Blues at Eden Park on Friday.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder said he is not hopeful of a positive result.

"Well I don't really know so I can't say too much," Blackadder said.

"It would seem serious for him to come off.

"When we get back to Christchurch Luke's going to go have a scan so we'll know then."

Crusaders captain Kieran Read said there is no need for panic or a drastic change in tactics in the wake of the loss to their arch rivals in Auckland.

An expansive game has become part and parcel of Super Rugby, and the Crusaders have clearly realised in the off season that bringing an eighth title back to Christchurch depends on them lifting the lethality of their offensive game.

"We certainly have the players in the squad to play attacking footy and that is what we want to achieve," Read said.

Next week in Wellington two teams searching for their maiden win of the season will clash, the best offensive outfit of 2011 in the Crusaders against the team that claimed their attacking throne last year in the Hurricanes.

Read promised the Crusaders would not go into their shells.

"We will back ourselves 100 percent in the way we want to play and will turn up next week and try and do that in Wellington," he said.